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MEETING OF THE ESSEX COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HEREBY CALLED ORDER.THIS MEETING IS BEING LIVE STREAMED IN ADDITION TO TAKING PLACE IN PERSON ROLE CALL MEDICAL COMMISSIONER COOPER.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
HERE PLEASE STAND FOR THE SALUTE TO THE FLAG AND I'M GONNA ASK VICE PRESIDENT POMAR TO LEAD US IN THE SALUTE I PLEDGES TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY JUSTICE FOR ALL.
PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR ALL THE SENSELESS KILLINGS AND GOING ON IN THIS COUNTRY.
GOTTA DO SOMETHING ABOUT GUN CONTROL.
I HAVE BEFORE ME CERTIFICATION FROM THE CLERK THAT THIS MEETING IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT.
ARE THERE ANY TRANSCRIPTS TO BE APPROVED? MR. PRESIDENT? THERE ARE NONE.
ARE THERE ANY TOPICS OF DISCUSSION MR. PRESIDENT? THERE ARE NONE IN THAT CASE.
LET'S MOVE TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION.
TONIGHT'S MEETING IS A COMBINED CONFERENCE SLASH BOARD MEETING AND WE WILL VOTE ON EVERY ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
SO IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS ONLY, PLEASE COME TO THE MIC AND STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
THERE WILL BE TIME LATER IN THE EVENING FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON ANY OTHER ITEMS. SO I ASK YOU TO PLEASE LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS AT THIS TIME TO AGENDA ITEMS ONLY.
UH, ADAM KRAMER, UH, 20 MORAN ROAD, WEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.
UM, I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS ON THE AGENDAS.
UM, THERE'S A VOTE TO, UH, RAISE THE SALARIES OF EVERY ELECTED OFFICIAL IN THE COUNTY, INCLUDING THE BOARD OF CHOSEN FREEHOLDERS.
BUT YET AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S BEEN, I BELIEVE SIX OR SIX AND A HALF YEARS SINCE OUR SHERIFFS OR CORRECTION OFFICERS HAVE BEEN UNDER CONTRACT.
SO I AM URGING YOU TO HOLD BACK ON GIVING YOURSELVES A RAISE UNTIL WE SETTLE THAT CONTRACT, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S FAIRNESS TO OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMITTEE COMMISSION.
ALSO, THERE ARE A LOT OF, UH, MEMBERS OF THIS BODY WHO ARE ABSENT AND I'VE NOTICED THERE'S A LOT OF LACK OF ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS.
I WOULD LIKE IT PART OF A CONDITION OF THIS RAISE A STIPULATION THAT THERE BE MONETARY CONSEQUENCES FOR MISSING MEETINGS WITH REGARD TO H THREE, THE CIVILIAN TASK FORCE AT THE JAIL.
WHILE I UNDERSTAND ITS GOAL, AND I UNDERSTAND WE SHOULD DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO COMPLY WITH THE EIGHTH AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION AND AVOID CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT THE WAY YOU'RE MAKING IT UP, YOU HAVE A LACK OF LAW ENFORCEMENT PER UH, PERSPECTIVE ON THIS, UH, BODY AND A LACK OF PERSPECTIVE FROM PUBLIC SAFETY.
SO I SUBMIT AS YOU'RE CONSTITUTING THIS BOARD, YOU'RE NOT GONNA HAVE A FAIR AND BALANCED AND OBJECTIVE WAY OF REVIEWING THE JAILS.
AND WITH REGARD TO ITEM K 23, THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND NEED FOR CERTAIN, UH, SOFTWARE ITEMS WITH CLEAR VIEW, I SEE THAT THEY ARE THE SOLE AND ONLY BIDDER WHO WANT IT.
AND I QUESTION IF YOU ARE MAKING YOU AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND PURCHASING IS MAKING THE BID SPECS BROAD ENOUGH SO YOU HAVE TRULY COMPETITIVE BIDS FOR OUR TAXPAYERS.